This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-28582853
The article has changed 10 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Israel 'to destroy' Hamas Gaza tunnels - Netanyahu | Israel 'to destroy' Hamas Gaza tunnels - Netanyahu |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Israel will not stop its operation in Gaza until the tunnels constructed by Hamas have been destroyed, PM Benjamin Netanyahu has said. | Israel will not stop its operation in Gaza until the tunnels constructed by Hamas have been destroyed, PM Benjamin Netanyahu has said. |
| Speaking ahead of a cabinet meeting, he said Israel was determined to destroy the tunnels - used to attack troops and towns - "with or without a ceasefire". | Speaking ahead of a cabinet meeting, he said Israel was determined to destroy the tunnels - used to attack troops and towns - "with or without a ceasefire". |
| Earlier Israel called up 16,000 reservists, bringing the total mobilised so far to 86,000. | Earlier Israel called up 16,000 reservists, bringing the total mobilised so far to 86,000. |
| Some 425,000 people in Gaza have been displaced by fighting, the UN says. | Some 425,000 people in Gaza have been displaced by fighting, the UN says. |
| That is as much as 25% of the population of the territory. | That is as much as 25% of the population of the territory. |
| More detail: Life in the Gaza Strip | More detail: Life in the Gaza Strip |
| Israel began Operation Protective Edge on 8 July. Since then at least 1,360 Palestinians have been killed, mostly civilians. | Israel began Operation Protective Edge on 8 July. Since then at least 1,360 Palestinians have been killed, mostly civilians. |
| Some 58 Israelis have been killed, of which 56 were soldiers and two civilians. A Thai worker in Israel has also died. | Some 58 Israelis have been killed, of which 56 were soldiers and two civilians. A Thai worker in Israel has also died. |
| Tunnel threat | Tunnel threat |
| The operation began with a focus on Hamas' rocket-launching capability, but has since expanded to take in the threat from tunnels. | The operation began with a focus on Hamas' rocket-launching capability, but has since expanded to take in the threat from tunnels. |
| After air strikes began, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) discovered an extensive network of tunnels leading from Gaza into Israel. | After air strikes began, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) discovered an extensive network of tunnels leading from Gaza into Israel. |
| Hamas militants have launched several attacks from the tunnels, killing a number of Israeli soldiers. | Hamas militants have launched several attacks from the tunnels, killing a number of Israeli soldiers. |
| Reports from Israel suggest the discovery of the tunnels - and the reality that infiltrators have used them to kill Israelis inside their own country - has shocked many Israelis and bolstered support for the operation. | Reports from Israel suggest the discovery of the tunnels - and the reality that infiltrators have used them to kill Israelis inside their own country - has shocked many Israelis and bolstered support for the operation. |
| It launched a ground operation to destroy the tunnels on the night of 17 July, and insists that any ceasefire deal includes the right to continue that mission. | It launched a ground operation to destroy the tunnels on the night of 17 July, and insists that any ceasefire deal includes the right to continue that mission. |
| "I won't agree to any proposal that will not enable the Israeli military to complete this important task for the sake of Israel's security," Mr Netanyahu said. | "I won't agree to any proposal that will not enable the Israeli military to complete this important task for the sake of Israel's security," Mr Netanyahu said. |
| The tunnels would allow Hamas to "abduct and murder civilians and IDF soldiers while simultaneously attacking from the tunnels penetrating our territory," he added. | The tunnels would allow Hamas to "abduct and murder civilians and IDF soldiers while simultaneously attacking from the tunnels penetrating our territory," he added. |
| Gaza 'desperate' | |
| In Gaza, Israeli shelling continued on Thursday morning, the BBC's Jon Donnison reports. | In Gaza, Israeli shelling continued on Thursday morning, the BBC's Jon Donnison reports. |
| Meanwhile, a series of rocket alert sirens sounded across southern Israel. Sirens in the town of Sderot sounded several times as Mr Netanyahu spoke. | Meanwhile, a series of rocket alert sirens sounded across southern Israel. Sirens in the town of Sderot sounded several times as Mr Netanyahu spoke. |
| Civilians in Gaza are braced for more strikes after a deadly day on Wednesday that saw more than 100 people die. | Civilians in Gaza are braced for more strikes after a deadly day on Wednesday that saw more than 100 people die. |
| In the most controversial incident at least 16 people were killed when shells hit a UN-run school in the Jabaliya district of Gaza City. | In the most controversial incident at least 16 people were killed when shells hit a UN-run school in the Jabaliya district of Gaza City. |
| The US and UN condemned the strike, with the UN secretary general saying "all available evidence" suggested Israeli artillery was the cause. | The US and UN condemned the strike, with the UN secretary general saying "all available evidence" suggested Israeli artillery was the cause. |
| Spokesman Mark Regev told the BBC Israel would apologise if it discovered it was responsible. | Spokesman Mark Regev told the BBC Israel would apologise if it discovered it was responsible. |
| "We have a policy - we don't target civilians," he said. | "We have a policy - we don't target civilians," he said. |
| "It's not clear to us that it was our fire but we know for a fact there was hostile fire on our people from the vicinity of the school." | "It's not clear to us that it was our fire but we know for a fact there was hostile fire on our people from the vicinity of the school." |
| Later on Wednesday at least 17 were killed in a strike on a busy market in Shejaiya - a district already badly damaged by Israel artillery. | Later on Wednesday at least 17 were killed in a strike on a busy market in Shejaiya - a district already badly damaged by Israel artillery. |
| Israel occupied Gaza in the 1967 Middle East war and only pulled its troops and settlers out in 2005. | Israel occupied Gaza in the 1967 Middle East war and only pulled its troops and settlers out in 2005. |
| Israel considered this the end of the occupation, but it still exercises control over most of Gaza's borders, water and airspace. Egypt controls Gaza's southern border. | Israel considered this the end of the occupation, but it still exercises control over most of Gaza's borders, water and airspace. Egypt controls Gaza's southern border. |
| Hamas says it will not stop fighting until a blockade, maintained by both Israel and Egypt, is lifted. | Hamas says it will not stop fighting until a blockade, maintained by both Israel and Egypt, is lifted. |